TECH CONNECTTurning Ideas into Opportunities
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| Monthly news & updates May 1, 2023
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| FY 2023STATISTICS
YEAR TO DATE
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| U.S. Patents
Issued
44
*includes end-user software and materials licenses along with conventional technology licenses
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Theralink® Acquires Exclusive Landmark Immunotherapy Patent including Biomarker from Vanderbilt University
Theralink Technologies, a precision oncology company with a novel phosphoprotein and protein assay for breast cancer, today announced that it has acquired an exclusive license from Vanderbilt University for a U.S. patent related to methods for predicting patient response to immunotherapies in cancers, US 10,969,392, expanding the Company’s patent portfolio to 10.
Theralink has licensed the patent from Vanderbilt University, strengthening and extending Theralink’s current IP portfolio that covers specific “predictive” biomarkers. Predictive biomarkers are used to identify patients with cancers that require specific, personalized therapeutics. In essence, they define what are called “companion diagnostics” wherein the biomarker is used to identify classes of patients that will best respond to a specific drug. Theralink’s existing licensed patents cover specific predictive biomarkers that cover a range of therapeutic classes.
Emanuel Petricoin, Ph.D., Chair of Theralink’s Science Advisory Board, stated, “Immuno-oncology is one of the most exciting areas in the treatment of cancer today. However, despite the great success and promise of immunotherapies, many patients do not respond to this class of drugs, and there are significant toxicities associated with them. This important patent from discoveries made in the Balko laboratory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a significant addition to Theralink’s biomarker collection, greatly enhancing our existing CLIA Theralink Assay portfolio.”
Dr. Justin Balko, PharmD. Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt, commented, “We are pleased to advance this important biomarker into the clinic with the ultimate goal of aiding precision medicine in the use of immunotherapy in breast cancer and other tumor types. Migrating this biomarker to a clinically-accessible platform in tandem with ongoing phase III validation efforts will certainly accelerate its impact.”
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Herowear exosuit technology launches with on-campus departments
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An innovative exosuit developed by a team of Vanderbilt engineers comes full circle this semester with a pilot implementation in the Division of Administration.
Research on what became known as the Herowear Apex suit began in 2015. It was initially funded by a Vanderbilt University Discovery Grant, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and a National Institutes of Health Career Development Award. Karl Zelik, associate professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering and recent recipient of the inaugural Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award, leads the research out of the Center for Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology lab.
In late March 2023, the Division of Administration offered its support to the Vanderbilt-developed technology by acquiring Apex 1 suits for testing in Facilities, Campus Dining, Athletics Concessions and Mail Services. The pilot test includes the use of 27 Apex 1 suits over six weeks. During the pilot test, users will wear the suits in actual work conditions and provide feedback throughout the duration of the study.
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Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) Global Scholars Program call for proposals
The Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research seeks to advance science through the NIBR Global Scholars Program (NGSP). NGSP matches innovative thinkers from select academic institutions with NIBR scientists to explore new and exciting research directions to discover and develop transformative medicines with funding support of up to $1M USD over three years.
An Exclusive Opportunity for Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical School (VUMC) Innovators: Vanderbilt University-VUMC are among a select group of institutions globally invited to engage in this opportunity. Through this program, NIBR will support projects focused on novel science that can be translated to discovery research.
Application details:
- Online submission portal opens: April 10, 2023.
- Pre-proposal submission deadline: May 5, 2023.
The pre-proposal application form includes questions where applicants will need guidance from CTTC contact.
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Former CTTC Intern:
Lauren Grohowski focuses on being an empathetic engineer
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When mechanical engineering major Lauren Grohowski talks about her numerous projects, her face lights up with excitement. She not only geeks out over the joy of building and solving complex problems, but she also is passionate about using her skills to be an “empathetic engineer.”
Lauren Grohowski, School of Engineering – mechanical engineering, “What I really love about engineering is seeing the direct impact you’re making on people,” said the McLean, Virginia, resident. “I love helping solve problems by building products and devices for people that really need them.”
Grohowski is planning to use her engineering expertise for a different side of the innovation process. She’s headed to the University of Virginia School of Law to specialize in product patent law.
Her engineering professors helped her get experience relevant to that goal as well.
“While working in the Zelik lab, I told them I wanted to be a patent lawyer, so they let me sit in on their tech transfer meetings,” she said. “That led to an internship in Vanderbilt’s Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization, which was just amazing.”
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| One Vanderbilt Technology Earns Patent Protection in April
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Use of Scavengers of Reactive Gamma-Ketoaldehydes to Extend Cell Lifespan and Healthspan
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Technology Spotlight:Selective Size Imaging using Filters via Diffusion Times (SSIFT)
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Vanderbilt researchers have developed a novel MRI-based method for fast, robust, and accurate imaging of biological tissue by selecting a specific cell size range (such as tumors) without the need for a contrast agent. One exciting application of this method is imaging brain metastases (BM) that are difficult to differentiate from other brain abnormalities such as radionecrosis when using existing approaches.
Technology and IP Status:
A patent application has been filed.
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Below is a sampling of the interactions that have taken place in our office and with our staff over the last month.
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- Attended the Innovation Catalyst Kickoff Event where Vanderbilt leadership and a panel of faculty innovators shared their experiences on innovating at Vanderbilt
- Attended online webinar entitled “Funding and Equity for University Startups – What to Expect When Seeking Funds from VCs” hosted by Osage University Partners
- Attended a meeting with Solasta Ventures to discuss areas for partnership
- Attended the School of Medicine: Basic Science's Board of Visitors meeting
- Attended the strategy meeting for the Basic Sciences Therapeutic Advisory Board
- Attended Brock Center planning meetings regarding an oncology focused startup company
- Attended a meeting with a venture firm and therapeutics company regarding potential partnerships in oncology and neuroscience indications
- Attended Nashville Healthcare Council networking event
- Attended a Nashville blockchain and fintech investor event
- Attended a private investor cocktail event
- Attended the Regional Innovation Showcase with Erwin Gianchandani, Assistant Director of the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships within the National Science Foundation
- Attended the Spring 2023 Pitch Day event hosted by TennSMART and BioTN
- Attended the Innovation Open Mic event hosted by the Wond’ry at Vanderbilt
- Attended a Biotech Investment and policy event hosted by the TN Coalition for Health Science and bioSTEM education
- Attended a networking event hosted by the West Point Entrepreneurs Roadshow with a local veteran entrepreneur recruited to run a Vanderbilt startup
- Attended the Army Aviation Association of America Conference
- Attended Cumberland Emerging Technologies advisory board meeting
- Attended Brock Center's How to Start a University Spinoff
- Attended Cumberland Pharma's Reception
- Attended JP Morgan Healthcare Leadership Conference
- Attended the final presentation of Daniela Hernandez Duque, the 1st VISE Master of Engineering in Surgery and Intervention student
- Attended VICTR innovation studio for the standardized photo app software developed by Micheal Golinko from the Department of Plastic Surgery and colleagues from the Healthcare IT Department at VUMC
- Attended the UIDP Conference in Nashville, TN. The UIDP conference is focused on key issues impacting university-industry relations and discovering opportunities to develop innovative approaches to partnership and collaboration between universities and industry partners
- Attended several scientific seminars and retreats including: Emerge 2023: I, Chatbot - Vanderbilt's emerging technology conference, the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation Annual Symposium, and the Edwards Vaccinology and Infectious Diseases Symposium
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- Executed a non-exclusive material license with a biotechnology research company for a mouse model developed by Jennifer Kearney and Mark Magnuson from the School of Medicine
- Executed a CDA with a gene coding company for technology developed by Matthew Wilson from the School of Medicine
- Executed a CDA with a large medical device company for novel ultrasound-related technology developed by Rajnish Gupta in VUMC’s Department of Anesthesiology
- Executed an NDA with a medical imaging company interested in exploring a novel imaging approach for pulmonary embolism detection developed in the Department of Radiology
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- Met with the “Stuff You Should Know” team at Vanderbilt about giving a session on CTTC and academic technology transfer
- Conducted an RFP for patent annuity services
- Initiated discussions with a major pharma company about potential collaborations across multiple therapeutic areas
- Held a call with a life sciences reagent company interested in licensing the fluorocoxib Q cancer imaging agents developed by Larry Marnett from the Department of Biochemistry
- Recruited speakers for the upcoming Vanderbilt Life Science Showcase event and promoted the showcase at local and national events
- Developed advertisement material promoting the 2023-2024 Sanofi iAwards call for proposals
- Met with faculty to prepare potential Ancora proposal submissions
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- Volunteered at the Innovation Catalyst Faculty Retreat, facilitating faculty workshop discussions
- Participated in Judges panel at the Sohr Grant final round pitch
- Mentored a graduate student participating in the Ideator Program hosted by the Wond’ry at Vanderbilt
- Participated in a pitch practice session with a student in the Masters of Engineering in Surgery and Intervention program at Vanderbilt
- Hosted a Strategic Partner event with local startup talent recruiting firm
- Mentored a Vanderbilt student who presented his customer discovery research on best practices for academic accelerators
- Presented at the LIVE Initiative seminar series regarding CTTC services for IP commercialization and new venture creation
- Judged the final group presentations for Bob Webster's Innovation Realization course, in which teams comprising a PhD candidate, MBA and law students explore commercialization of the PhD candidate's research
- Wrote an Intellectual and Material Property Plan for Rei Ukita, a researcher from the Department of Cardiac Surgery who is submitting a DoD grant application that requested the information
- Hosted a top pharmaceutical company on campus. Visit included meetings with key researchers from both Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center faculty; with John Kuriyan, Dean of the School of Medicine Basic Sciences; and a tour of Vanderbilt’s medical research facilities
- Presented the many ways Vanderbilt engages with industry to foster research and develop new technologies to Congressman Mark Green’s staff during their Vanderbilt visit
- Conducted Ancora Project Team meetings and Ancora project strategy meetings with 3DC team leads
- Hosted monthly Ancora business meetings with CTTC and Deerfield
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